That is, he that doubteth whether it be right to eat the meats forbidden by the law, is in this condemned, although the thing itself is lawful. Until he learns principles of living by grace, he cannot violate those norms. It is often necessary to assert our Christian liberty at the expense of incurring censure, and offending even good men, in order that right principles of duty may be preserved. Paul evidently argues on the principle that if a man is a true Christian, he should be recognized and treated as such. But why dost thou judge thy brother, as lax and latitudinarian, because thou art rigid and scrupulous? To the extent that he had light*, he delighted in the law of God in the inward man. The Jewish converts cautioned against judging, and Gentile believers against despising one the other. Romans 14:13. They are at odds with themselves and their perceived standards for living. God the Creator wakes a doxology at Romans 1:25; Christ the Redeemer at Romans 9:5; God the divine Governor at Romans 11:36. ", "For a Christian not a single decision and action can be good which he does not think he can justify on the ground of his Christian conviction and his liberty before God in Christ. Reader! If one has been brought up to believe that certain things are wrong, being thereby in conscience opposed to the doing of them, he cannot merely wave such scruples aside. Powered by Bible Study Tools. cf. Many decisions in the Christian life don't come with absolute, yes-or-no, one-size-fits-all answers. But they must settle the question with our apostle. I mean that the term “inner being” (esō anthrōpon) is Paul’s way of saying, “I don’t mean this hypocritically, or superficially, or Pharisaically. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". There may, therefore, be a very sinful zeal for God and religion (see Romans 10:2); and no man will be able to plead at the bar of judgment, his good intention as an excuse for evil conduct, Romans 14:23. Concession to their weakness he enjoins on a principle perfectly consistent with the assertion of the truth, and with the preservation of Christian liberty, Romans 14:13-23. "John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible". Owing to ignorance, early prejudice, weakness of faith, and other causes, there may and must exist a diversity of opinion and practice on minor points of duty. There is a strong tendency in men to treat, as matters of conscience, things which God has never enjoined. All rights reserved. It is a high aggravation of guilt to do any thing that, in its own nature, tends to the discomfort and ruin of the weakest believers, and to the disconcerting or destroying of the work of God in them. (14-23) Commentary on Romans 14:1-6 (Read Romans 14:1-6) Then, with all suitableness, the whole is closed with the grand doxology of Romans 16:26-27. "Abbott's Illustrated New Testament". 1896. Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament. 1. In fact, legalism is the opposite of grace. To this we may add, that without faith it is impossible to please God; every thing is wrong where this principle is wanting. “So far as it brings with it the moral confidence as to what in general and under given circumstances is the right christian mode of action” (Meyer). (1) Whatever rigid sticklers for the necessity of orthodoxy on every truth of the Bible and every point of the Christian Faith may say, nothing can be clearer from this chapter than that some points in Christianity are unessential to Christian fellowship; so that, though one may he in error upon them, he is not on that account to be excluded either from the communion of the Church or from the full confidence of those who have more light. Romans 4:20, James 1:6, Mark 11:23. Whatever violates their conscience is sin. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, heartily embracing and welcoming him, but not to doubtful disputations, nor perplexing him with useless disputes about things of a trivial nature. His conscience and conduct are at war, and he is wretched, though not perhaps as bad as he thinks himself. (7) With what holy jealousy ought the purity of the conscience to be guarded, since every deliberate violation of it is incipient perdition (Romans 14:15, Romans 14:20)! “If any one may eat doubting, he has been condemned, because it is not of faith. However, by doing this he violates his personal integrity. 5. Wherever this disposition has been indulged or submitted to, it has resulted in bringing one class of men under the most degrading bondage to another; and in the still more serious evil of leading them to disregard the authority of God. (Romans 7:25.) https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hcc/romans-14.html. Your email address will not be published. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. BibliographyHawker, Robert, D.D. All Rightes Reserved, Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855. Even lawful acts may on occasion cause other brethren to stumble or be made weak. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/fam/romans-14.html. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/romans-14.html. Romans 14:23 And G1161 he that doubteth G1252 is damned G2632 if G1437 he eat G5315 , because G3754 he eateth not G3756 of G1537 faith: G4102 for G1161 whatsoever G3956 is G3739 not G3756 of G1537 faith G4102 is G2076 sin. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/whe/romans-14.html. For more on this, see under Romans 16:27. Doubt is incompatible with faith; that is, a clear conscience must always go with its convictions. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat. But he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. He that doubteth of the lawfullness of any meat, whether he may or may not eat it. On the doxology inserted at this point in some authorities, see Romans 16:25-27. And he that doubteth - This verse is a necessary part of the preceding, and should be read thus: But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith. 1. "George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary". BibliographyIce, Rhoderick D. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". Amid all such differences, the great question is, whether there is true love to the Lord Jesus. Cicero de Officiis, lib. And (‘for’ is incorrect) whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Search the Bible ... Rom 14:23 - And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. He wished to convince the stronger Christians that it was unreasonable in them to expect their weaker brethren to act according to their faith; and that it was sinful in them so to use their liberty as to induce these scrupulous Christians to violate their own consciences.‹75›. The mistake implies a wrong state of mind; and, on the other hand, the misapprehension of truth produces a wrong state of mind. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cgt/romans-14.html. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, laying aside all uncharitable contentions;—and things wherewith one may edify another; not seeking our own pleasure merely, but others' good. but even if so, Can it be used with safety to a brother‘s conscience? Eateth not of faith—He eats not according to the clear free faith of the strong man, for that would have banished his doubt and reconciled his conscience and conduct. But, 2. And in the view of an impartial and decisive judgment to come, how tender and condescending should we be to our brethren that are apt to be offended, on every little occasion, for want of better light! Romans 14:23 But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because {he eateth} not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin. God will give us clear light on all the ground we can cultivate, His Spirit leading your spirit, His Word your intellect and His providence your body, so if true you will never lack His guidance. It means properly to “condemn;” and here it means only that the person who should thus violate the dictates of his conscience would incur guilt, and would be blameworthy in doing it. In chapter 12 the language changes and from a discussion of “doctrinal” themes Paul moves to a consideration of some “practical” matters. 2. Posted on 25 March 2012 by catholicsensibility. Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary, Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament, Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible, Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament, Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges, William Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament, [Note: David DeGraaf, "Some Doubts about Doubt: The New Testament Use of Diakrino," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society48:8 (December2005):733-55. Copyright StatementThese files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website. "Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable". It is inconsistent with that conscientiousness through which alone man can be trained in goodness; the moral life would become chaotic and irredeemable if conscience were always to be treated so. 4. Paul, before his conversion, thought it right to persecute Christians; the Jews thought they did God service when they cast the disciples of the Savior out of the synagogue. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". For whatever a man doth, and is not according to what he believeth he may do, or whatever is against a man's conscience, is sinful in him. Everything a Christian man does that cannot justify itself to him on the ground of his relation to Christ is sin. "Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament". Nor are those truths themselves disparaged or endangered thereby, but the reverse. “He who hesitates as to what he ought to do is condemned, or does wrong, if he eats (in opposition to his conscience), for he has not the one faculty which can overrule the decisions of conscience, and give them a different direction.”. 7. That is, "He that doubteth whether he should eat or no, and yet eats, is condemned of himself, because he doth a thing when he is not satisfied of its lawfulness; for whatsoever is not done of faith, that is, with a persuasion that it is lawful, is to him that does it undoubtedly sinful." Renewal 1960. 2012. 1700-1703. If God has received him, we should receive him, Romans 14:1-12. Never to wound one of Christ's little ones here below, much less to destroy his comfort, though nothing can destroy his everlasting happiness for whom Christ died. And do thou, dearest Lord, grant me increasing faith in thee, since all, and every act, without an eye to thee, and thy righteousness, is sin. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". The text arises out of a transitional era in religious history, when many converts to Christ were passing from one great divine … Because he is the final judge of all men, Romans 14:10. Thus, from Sanday: R. C. Bell had the following pertinent remarks: In the light of the solemn admonitions of this great chapter, how shall we behold the divisions among brethren over such matters as supporting a radio program, teaching the Bible in classes, supporting orphan homes, etc., except as tragic examples of failure to heed the warnings of the Holy Spirit? Romans 14:23 : And he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. It is a mistake of the sense of this place, to pretend that every moral action done by an infidel, must needs be a sin, as when he gives an alms to relieve the necessities of the poor. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". But if he has doubts. Faith here as throughout is the man’s faith in GOD through Christ. Besides, how can that be obedience, when any one undertakes what he is not persuaded is approved by God? He was not serving the law of sin with his mind. The condemnation is absolute: it is not only that his own conscience pronounces clearly against him after the act, but that such action incurs the condemnation of God. "The 1599 Geneva Study Bible". Our Savior consented to be regarded as a Sabbath-breaker, and even a "wine-bibber and friend of publicans and sinners;" but wisdom was justified of her children. Many decisions in the Christian life don't come with absolute, yes-or-no, one-size-fits-all answers. To advocate even a good cause with bad arguments does great harm, by exciting unnecessary opposition; by making good men, who oppose the arguments, appear to oppose the truth; by introducing a false standard of duty; by failing to enlist the support of an enlightened conscience, and by the necessary forfeiture of the confidence of the intelligent and well informed. Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful]. Where the conscience is in doubt, the definition of proper conduct must be made on the basis of what the word of God says; and, lacking any clear knowledge of what the word says, or, if knowing it, lacking full confidence and faith in it, the person is bound by his scruple. The most natural solution of the fact of its being here placed is that the customary reading of the Epistle in the Churches (see page 5) ended here, (the remainder of the Epistle being held of a less edifying character and so not read,) with the closing doxology superadded. The conduct of Christians alone is under discussion; so that there is no direct application of the principle to unbelievers. Whatever conviction any man may have of the lawfulness of all kinds of food, yet, if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, through the prejudices of education, and you unkindly persist in the use of your liberty, and eat before him what he esteems forbidden, now walkest thou not charitably; destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died; destroy not the peace of his mind, by giving him unnecessary offence; or, at least, be not the means of stumbling such as, in the judgment of charity, we may reckon among true believers. For διακριν. Perhaps "he who creates divisions" would be a better translation of diakrinomenos than "he who doubts." https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jab/romans-14.html. This is a general rule, or axiom, which is not only applicable to the present case, but to any other, whether of a natural, civil, moral, or evangelic kind: "whatsoever does not spring from faith", as the Arabic version renders it, cannot be excused of sin; whatever is not agreeable to the word and doctrine of faith, ought not to be done; whatever is done without faith, or not in the exercise of it, is culpable, for without faith nothing can be pleasing to God; and whatever is contrary to the persuasion of a man's own mind, is so far criminal, as it is a violation of his conscience; whatever men do, especially in a religious way, they ought to make faith of it, or to be fully persuaded of it in their own minds, or they act amiss: in the Arabic version, the Complutensian edition, the Alexandrian copy, and some others, Romans 16:25, "now to him that is of power", &c. are here added; which have induced some to think, that the apostle intended to have finished his epistle here; but having more time, and other things occurred to write of, he proceeded. Romans 14:23 (King James Version) 23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 5.) Thank you for you work on Romans! The exposition itself supersedes further illustration here. Everything that isn't based on … 4. The peace and edification of the church are to be sought at all sacrifices except those of truth and duty; and the work of God is not to be destroyed or injured for the sake of any personal or party interests, Romans 14:13, Romans 14:20. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/romans-14.html. The more important matter is, however, to remember that for Christians, at least, Christian ethics should have full validity, and that here the principle admits of no exception: whatsoever is not of faith is sin; genuine Christian morality is all of faith. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. Yet his case is bad. Note; Our great concern is, to prepare for a judgment-day, and the best means to be ready for it is, to keep it often in our view, and to bring ourselves thither in self-examination, before the Lord shall cite us to his bar. Nor are those truths themselves disparaged or endangered thereby, but the reverse. In the book of Romans, we find Paul, as in other places, advising against making another brother stumble by what one eats/drinks. BibliographyPett, Peter. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". Go to. 10. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) “fought” for the freedom of enslaved and oppressed peoples for over thirty years and is rightly recognized as one of the world’s great leaders in this regard. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". Romans 14:23: And he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. The margin has it rendered correctly, “He that discerneth and putteth a difference between meats.” He that conscientiously believes, as the Jew did, that the Levitical law respecting the difference between meats was binding on Christians. A few manuscripts have the doxology in both places, and a few others entirely omit it. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. Cf. 2 One [man] has faith to eat everything,+ but the [man] who is weak eats vegetables. This survey of the whole entirely dispenses with all the theories of “separate pieces of parchment,” “various times of writing,” “fourfold endings,” “encyclical epistles,” etc., which commentators, critics, and sceptics have so needlessly invented. "Meat commendeth us not to God; for neither if we eat are we the better; neither if we eat not are we the worse," Romans 14:6, Romans 14:7. The answer is found in the second half of verse 23. (Romans 7:22.) i.e. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/srn/romans-14.html. 1879-90. It does not follow that everything which a man believes he may do is right; cf. Whom God receives, men cannot lawfully reject (Romans 14:3, Romans 14:4). And he that doubteth, is damned, &c.— Is convicted [of sin] if he eat, because it is not according to his belief: for whatsoever [a man doeth] not according to his persuasion, is sin. If he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith (on the meaning of "faith" here, see the note at Romans 14:22): For whatsoever is not of faith is sin - a maxim of unspeakable importance in the Christian life. His action is contrary to what he believes is right. What does Romans chapter 14 mean? BibliographyEdwards, Justin. Cf. But he that doubts is condemned; "He that really in his conscience makes a difference between one sort of food and another, is condemned by God as a sinner, if he eat out of unbridled appetite, vain complaisance, or weak shame. The reason for this condemnation is, that every work, however splendid and excellent in appearance, is counted as sin, except it be founded on a right conscience; for God regards not the outward display, but the inward obedience of the heart, by this alone is an estimate made of our works. Some think that these words have a more extensive signification, and that they apply to all who have not true religion, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; every work of such persons being sinful in the sight of a holy God, because it does not proceed from a pure motive. That is, however sure a man may be that what he does is right, he cannot expect others to act on his faith. BibliographyHodge, Charles. οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως, ‘because the action does not spring from faith.’ It is not the result in him, as it is in the other, of faith: and action which cannot justify itself thus proceeds from some other motive, which necessarily makes it sinful. The clause, however, furnishes a transition to the exhortation to the strong. It is important, however, that the duty of making such concessions should be placed on the right ground, and be urged in a right spirit, not as a thing to be demanded, but as that which the law of love requires. James 1:6, ‘he that hesitates or doubts,’ who wavers in his judgment; cf. Weak Christians have a proclivity to place guilt into their souls. "The Adam Clarke Commentary". Romans 14. "Commentary on Romans 14:23". We do not, nevertheless, obviate it by the methods of the commentators just named. "Family Bible New Testament". For whatsoever is not of faith is sin; this is a confirmation of the foregoing assertion. The mature Christian must not accept this rigidity and undermine his own liberty and proper understanding of Scripture in doing so. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin - Whatever he does, without a full persuasion of its lawfulness, (see Romans 14:22;) is to him sin; for he does it under a conviction that he may be wrong in so doing. How do you understand Romans 14:23? Aequitas enim lucet ipsa per se: dubitatio cogitationem significat injuriae. That meant that he delighted in love, in … Is damned] Both of his doubting conscience, which soundeth heavily, as a shaulm; and of God, who is greater than his conscience. . The use of the liberty which every Christian enjoys under the gospel, is to be regulated by the law of love; hence it is often morally wrong to do what, in itself considered, may be innocent, Romans 14:15, Romans 14:20, Romans 14:21. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. This is the general truth underlying the previous statements. The idea is that if the immature believer violates his belief that eating unholy meat is sinful, then it is wrong to violate his conscience. As the greatest points of Christianity stand distinct from all these trivial matters, no stress should be laid upon them. For he that in these things serveth Christ; faithful to his cause, and in simplicity designing his honour, whatever his practice or sentiments may be in unessential matters, is acceptable to God; his person and services are accepted in the Beloved, and he is approved of men, as a sincere convert, at least by all those of sound judgment and solid experience. But as Paul has before used it in this Epistle, Romans 4:20, in the sense of hesitating, staggering, or doubting, we may reasonably suppose that it has this meaning here, and especially as in every place where he expresses the other idea, he has employed the active form. Faith, through all the dispensation of mankind, (and in some sense every man is by himself a dispensation,) is intrinsically and essentially the same principle. I wish that I had the benefit of the next two chapters now, and going forward, but I realize you are still at work. American Tract Society. If the weaker brother eats to placate the strong, then he violates his self-imposed scruples. NOTE: Even in area"s of indifference, a violation of conscience is wrong! Some, who seem to be more jealous for the honor of certain doctrines than for the souls of men, enervate this terrific truth by asking how it bears upon the “perseverance of the saints”; the advocates of that doctrine thinking it necessary to explain away what is meant by “destroying the work of God” (Romans 14:20), and “destroying him for whom Christ died” (Romans 14:15), for fear of the doctrinal consequences of taking it nakedly; while the opponents of that doctrine are ready to ask, How could the apostle have used such language if he had believed that such a catastrophe was impossible? To hell rendered doubteth, is nearly the same as of Romans 14:22, seems addressed to... Exhorted to take heed of giving offence in their use of any,! In favour of romans 14:23 meaning here the doxology which stands at the end of this.. Truth of God not an ethical result of his relation to Christ, Romans 14:10, shortly, for. 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Brethren, who afford credible evidence that they are the Lord, according to whose will and for glory!, there is another issue at hand, Ephesians and First Corintians his native India order! 14:23 translation & meaning censorious spirit is hostile to the Jewish converts cautioned against judging and... Approved it is not from [ out of ] faith, and the.! Thing which he alloweth firm conviction that the weaker brother would sin if he is self-condemned morals!